Plans submitted to build store at US 441, Hollywood Boulevard

The owner of the landmark parcel submitted site plans to build a 185,000 square foot Walmart Supercenter at the corner of U.S. 441 and Hollywood Boulevard, said Davon Barbour, the city's community and economic developer.

Renderings show the project also includes a TD Bank, Taco Bell, and Pollo Tropical.

Nearby business owners were excited about the news Tuesday after watching the Hollywood Fashion Center sit mostly empty over the last 20 years.

"It will bring up the city," said Giovanni Vargas. "It needs to be remodeled. That mall has been there for years and nothing has happened."

The Hollywood Fashion Center was built in 1972. Burdines, Jordan Marsh, JCPenney, and Richard's were among the major department stores at the mall, but many stores left for the Pembroke Lakes Mall, and the Hollywood Fashion Center closed in 1993.

"This center was a victim of that when you see retail moving to the suburbs, but now we have an experienced retail developer that has relationships with the retail industry and its really going to transform this project," said Barbour.

The Florida Department of Transportation is already planning to widen U.S. 441 and the city of Hollywood has plans for beautifying the roadway's corridor with parks, landscaping, and ponds.

"This is part of the new State Road 7 experience," added Barbour.

He said the new Walmart Supercenter will bring about 350 jobs to the city and should attract other new businesses to the area.

"We're very much focused on attracting new residents and new businesses to Hollywood so this is just one additional amenity to strengthen our neighborhoods," added Barbour.